Doug was instrumental in the successful opening of Harmon Canyon Preserve.
Doug Trapp has joined the Board of Trustees for the Ventura Land Trust. Trapp, a Ventura resident, is a Project Manager with Staples Construction.
Doug Trapp grew up in the West San Fernando Valley, where he often explored local hills that had no official public access. That experience fueled his desire to support responsible public access to open spaces.
“The dedication shown by VLT staff and volunteers that I have witnessed since joining the Stewardship Committee in 2019 inspired be to become more involved,” says Trapp. “Ventura is a special place that VLT is working to protect and enhance. I look forward to actively supporting our mission.”
As a member of VLT’s Stewardship Committee, Trapp was part of the development of public access infrastructure and trails at Harmon Canyon Preserve.
Ventura Land Trust Preserve Director Dan Hulst is pleased to increase the depth of technical knowledge and experience on VLT’s board. “The addition of Doug to our Board of Trustees is exciting not only because of Doug’s passion for conservation, but because of his experience of managing complex projects.”
“Doug was instrumental in the successful opening of Harmon Canyon Preserve last year, and he has made a long-lasting impact with his work on the construction of the preserve trailhead closure. Enlisting this type of talent at the board level ensures that VLT continues to grow in the right direction,” says Hulst.
Trapp has a degree in Speech Communication from Humboldt State University and has been a volunteer and paid host for public radio. He began his full-time career in construction in Seattle in 1990. In 2013, he married his long-time friend and schoolmate Mary and moved to Ventura.
When not working or volunteering, you will find Doug tinkering on the house or boat, picking on a mandolin, spending time with family and friends on the beach and on the water, or exploring the Sierras or local hills.
The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, which opened in June 2020. Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve and is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. In addition to these major holdings the Ventura Land Trust owns and stewards other smaller parcels across Ventura County. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.
Ventura County Library and First 5 Ventura County are proud to continue partnering on offering Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes for local families. In this free 12-week program, families with infants or toddlers are invited to learn new skills together, play fun activities, and share the love of reading. PACT Class is for children up to three years of age.
“Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. Every child comes into this world ready to learn. It’s never too early to talk, read, and sing to your child,” says Petra Puls, Executive Director of First 5 Ventura County.
Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director says, “By collaborating with First 5 Ventura County and other organizations that serve children from birth to age 3 and their parents, our Ventura County Libraries can make an even bigger difference in early childhood brain development. This program means our libraries will play a key role in providing equitable opportunities for all children to experience language through books and other interactions and provide support for parents who may have few or no other places they can go for help.”
According to one parent in PACT Class, “I feel as though I have better tools in understanding what my child needs and anticipating the wants. It’s also been helpful to hear other parents’ experiences too.”
After class, another parent said, “I feel better connected with my child and we have more fun ways to read together.”
In PACT Class, parents receive a free toolkit with developmental screenings for their child, age-appropriate toys supporting early childhood development, and books exploring social and emotional competence. Librarians also partner with families to address individual needs and strengthen community connections.
Online registration is open now for the fall session of classes, which begins in November. Parents register using this link: bit.ly/VCLPact. The class is limited to six families per location and registration is on a first come, first served basis. If the class is full, a waiting list will be created, and interested families will be notified of any openings.
The fall session of classes will be held weekly at:
Westview Community Room
Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, 1187 Riverside Street, Ventura
Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.Starting Thursday, November 4
The full class schedule may be found on the library’s online calendar of events: https://vencolibrary.org/calendar.
This class is offered in partnership with First 5 Ventura County. It is supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library. It is free and open to the public.
Canopy trees help channel rainwater into the ground. The leaves and branches carry water to the trunk, and the moisture runs down and is absorbed into the ground. Rain on pavement runs off into the ocean via gutters and storm drains, and does not replenish groundwater. As underground aquifer levels are decreasing due to drought and urban runoff, the contributions of trees are more important than ever for the sustainability of our region’s water supply.
Ventura College Student Bryan Rodriguez aims to boost DEI initiatives.
The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees installed Bryan Rodriguez as Student Trustee for the 2021-22 academic year at its Oct. 12 meeting. A Ventura College student, Rodriguez was selected through a districtwide special student election in Sept. He joins the District’s elected board consisting of Chair Joshua Chancer, Vice Chair Dianne B. McKay and Trustees Stan Mantooth, Bernardo M. Perez and Gabriela Torres.
As the Student Trustee, Rodriguez will represent and advocate for the District’s approximately 31,000 students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges at monthly Board of Trustees’ meetings and other constituent meetings across the District. He will also participate in professional development conferences and assist the board in advocating for the District, both statewide and nationally.
“I am thrilled to once again have a student trustee serve with our full board, one who understands the many academic and personal challenges college students face,” said Chair Chancer. “Through sharing his perspective as a first-generation college student, he can help inform the conversations around enhancing the student experience at the District’s colleges.”
“Having attended previous board meetings and establishing relationships with members, Bryan is knowledgeable about the responsibility of being a student trustee. The board and I look forward to his input and collaborating with him,” added Chancellor Greg Gillespie.
A political science major, Rodriguez serves as president of M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx De Aztlán). He is also an active member of the Political Science Club at Ventura College, which focuses on the interests of students aspiring to enter politics.
Rodriguez gained hands-on experience in his major by working as an intern at the office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. This year, he interned with the California Latinx Capitol Foundation Association and attended conferences and training sessions hosted by the Community College League of California and the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.
Some of his policy positions include increasing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that benefit students on campus and in their communities and addressing the impact of financial insecurity within the student population. In addition, he advocates for a more flexible curriculum and creating a culture of community and student engagement at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges and Ventura College East Campus.
The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 116-campus California Community College system and serves approximately 31,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges—Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura—offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu.
Suz informed and entertained millions with Schmooze With Suz on CAPSTV.
Suz Montgomery, an icon fixture in the Ventura community died Oct. 12, of complications from cancer
John Hankins stated: “My wife and best friend passed peacefully at 6:30 a.m. as the sun rose. Within the hour, a hummingbird hovered in her garden, a sign that her soul was at peace, which she predicted. For all her friends and family, we will be setting up a virtual legacy site in which you can post a picture of you with her and perhaps tell a favorite short story you had together.”
“After years of fighting cancer and fighting for justice, equality for all, dignity for seniors, and so much more, she is now free of pain. Her message to all would “be the best you can be and the best will come back to you.”
She was 73. In addition to her husband, Montgomery is survived by her two children, Lisa and Stephen, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Suz moved to Ventura in 1985 and immediately started to have her influence on Ventura. She was perhaps best known for her work with the senior community at government meetings and taught as an adult educator with the Ventura Unified School District.
Suz served as the chairperson for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Advisory Council and the Ventura Council for Seniors and was a member of Select Committee on Aging for state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson. In 2017, Montgomery was recognized by Jackson as one of her Women of the Year for her work with senior citizens.
Suz at the 2017 VCLA graduation class.
Memorials from just a very few of her friends and admirers who loved and respected her.
From the VCAAA. “It’s difficult to express Suz’s contributions to the VCAAA, and to the community as a whole, in a single post. She was dedicated to empowering the populations we serve and providing programs and services designed to help others live the best possible life. She never met a challenge she wasn’t willing to take on. She tackled every topic of interest with all she had and was well known and respected for her unwillingness to back down until the job was done.”
“There are certain people one meets along the way that are truly unforgettable. For everyone at CAPS Media, Suz Montgomery was one of these very remarkable individuals. Suz was not only instrumental in the formation of CAPS she was the embodiment of our mission: to create an engaged and informed community.
Passionate about the city she loved, Suz was an unrelenting force to be reckoned with, never shy about letting everyone know where she stood on the issues of the day in Ventura – including, and especially, city leaders.
Suz was an inspirational mentor to every member of her CAPS’ crew. All of us celebrate her inextinguishable fire and unrelenting spirit. Suz will be greatly missed but never forgotten by everyone at CAPS: the Community Access Partners of Suz. With a smile, a tear and a heavy heart, we thank Suz Montgomery for enriching each of our lives.
Patrick Davidson, Donald McConnell, Evan Carpenter, Elizabeth Rodeno, Gary Roll, Jamie Cawelti, Manny Reynoso, Phil Taggart, Alex Uvari and Jorge Godinez. “
Carol Michelle Leish “The legacy of dear Suz Montgomery will continue to live on!
You will be missed. Your memory and contributions to Ventura will continue to be a blessing to me and others.”
Mary Milner Haffner “Suz Montgomery cared about people and she always worked to make things better for everyone. She never held back-I always admired that about her. We will miss her dearly and are better for having known her.”
City Council Member Jim Friedman “I have known Suz for close to 25 years. We first met when I was a council member back in 1996. We actually hung out a fair amount together when I served as Mayor. When I think of Suz, the word “firecracker” is the first thing to comes to mind. Extremely energetic, engaged, involved, passionate about her community and most of all, passionate about “her seniors” as she liked to call them. Whether she was “holding court” on the sidewalk outside of Palermo on Main Street, schmoozing with Suz on Ventura’s cable access channel CAPS or just chatting with neighbors and friends, Suz just loved to talk and be with people. Her positive, “can do” attitude enable her to contribute so much to our community. She was truly “one of a kind” and will be dearly missed.”
Former city council member Cheryl Heitmann “Suz was a rock star in community activism. Once she identified a problem or an unmet need, she developed a solution and was unrelenting in going forward, getting many to advocate with her. Suz was passionate about good government, often saying it’s allabout the process, and services for Seniors and the mentally ill. She loved people and was happy to share her love of cooking and gardening with many. She loved her family, her friends and her community. She was a mentor to many, a counselor to some and a trusted friend who would listen and not be afraid to give her opinion. She touched many lives and made our city and county a better place. There will never be another Suz but she has given us all a model to strive for. To say she will be missed is truly an understatement.”
Ivor Davis “Suze was a force of nature–with a gigantic heart and a love of life.
I first met her when visiting some friends in a retirement community more than two decades ago–and there she was, this bubbling personality, providing spiritual sustenance to the residents and doing it with such energy and passion–which was her fabulous calling card. An indomitable lady She.”
Marlyss Auster President & CEO Visit Ventura “When we asked Suz Montgomery to present the Men’s Most Courageous jersey during the Stage 5 awards ceremony at the 2019 Amgen Tour of California here in Ventura her answer was 100 percent Suz Montgomery. “I’m pleased and honored to be asked to represent all of us who inspire and survive daily by giving back!” Her battles were never just about her.”
“Suz Montgomery had a profound impact on my life. She was deeply committed to our community and to living her life out loud. She celebrated each person she met with such authenticity and encouragement. She was a change maker in our community and truly touched so many lives. She was an inspiration to me and I know that her spirit lives on through the lives she touched. I will strive to be bold and live life out loud in honor of Suz (making sure to do so with fine wine, good food and interesting people like Suz would do!). I’m grateful to have known her and will miss her tremendously. She was a beautiful soul and our community and world is better because of the difference she made. I hope that we all carry her spirit forward in making a positive change in Ventura and beyond,” said community member Ashley Bautista.
Jill Forman “Suz showed us how to live and how to die: with grace, passion, and ultimately acceptance.”
Heather Sumagaysay: “I first met Suz during VCLA’s cohort 22. We called ourselves deuces wild, and of course, Suz helped champion for our group’s theme. Our goal was to be inspiring leaders who would remain committed to making a positive difference throughout Ventura County,” said City Public Information Officer Heather Sumagaysay. “In my current tenure with the City of Ventura, I’ve seen first-hand the impact Suz has had in the community. She dedicated her life to public service and advocated for many important community causes. She served as the Chair of our Ventura Council for Seniors, one of our City-appointed representatives to the VCAAA Advisory Council, played a key role in the development of the City’s Senior Strategic Plan, and received a legacy award from the City Council in 2020.”
Linda Parks Supervisor, District 2: “In 2017 the Ventura County Senior Summit awarded Suz with the Hank Lacayo Senior Advocacy Award for her compassion and hands-on advocacy for older adults. Her energy and commitment made a positive difference to so many, we need to add a Suz Montgomery Advocacy Award to honor her selfless dedication. On a personal note, I loved her encouragement and her smile and extend my heartfelt condolences to her husband, family and friends.”
Alicia Doyle “I met Suz more than two decades ago while working as a journalist for the Ventura County Star. I wrote several stories about her efforts to fight for the rights of older adults. Suz fought for policy changes and equality, and understood the crucial role older adults play in our lives, our communities and our world. Even though Suz has passed away, she made a positive difference that will continue to last as her memory is kept alive.”
Patricia Channer “I’ve known Suz since 1985 when she laid down her roots here in Ventura. A true shero, warrior and fearless advocate who spoke her truth and accomplished much in her short time here on earth. Our community is a better place because of her passion and love of all things Ventura. There are few people who have impacted our community like Suz, she will be sorely missed.
May our hearts lift in gratitude for the richness Suz brought to our lives. May we all continue to speak out, stand up and get involved.”
Composite decks made from recycled plastic and bottles is an emerging trend.
by Mira Reverente
So much for the best laid-plans, engineer and entrepreneur Jerry Huffman chanced upon another thrilling business venture just as he was gearing up for retirement.
This father of two and grandfather of five from the Inland Empire thought his entrepreneur days were truly behind him until he took a trip to Oxnard to explore some investment opportunities and fell in love with the area. “It’s like waking up in paradise everyday,” he says of his new home and his latest business.
The owner of Beyond Decks was retiring after 20 years in the business and Huffman took an interest. Beyond Decks has been a household name in the area, having built most decks in the Channel Islands, Ventura Marina and other neighboring areas. It also sells outdoor furniture and fencing.
“There were some similarities with the construction company we sold in Riverside. It wasn’t that simple but it wasn’t a hard transition either – from machinery to decks,” says Huffman.
Now named Ocean View Decks, the pandemic took its toll on this new venture, just like it did on the rest of the economy. Merging old and new crews, backlogs, long wait times, a warehouse bursting at the seams and skyrocketing prices were just some of the challenges that the new business faced. Almost all of it has been resolved but the impact still has a lingering trickle effect, according to Huffman.
“We are beyond busy working on three to four different projects a day, at various stages of installation with a full crew,” he says. According to him, there is a months-long wait for most projects, now that the lockdown is over people are starting to enjoy the outdoors again, and putting money into their homes.
So much has evolved in terms of the craftsmanship used in decks, the past few years compared to 20 or 30 years ago. Composite decks with brands like Trex and Timbertech made from recycled plastic and bottles is an emerging trend. These decks come with a 50-year to lifetime warranty and don’t fall prey to termites, mold or deterioration, and are easier to maintain. Stainless steel is also another popular material used in decks these days.
There has also been an increase in demand for motorized pergolas, those weatherproof structures for people to sit or walk under, where plants can also grow over. “There’s a long wait for those. You can control the lighting for pergolas from your smartphone now like a fancy toy,” says Huffman.
If you’re still on the fence about having a deck installed, the company offers 3D drawings or virtual walk-throughs, where you can virtually walk through your deck before it’s even built including hand rails, the grill placement, among other things, before you even start spending money. Huffman is proud of this sophisticated software that they offer. Another service that Ocean View Deck offers is free certified deck inspections, anywhere from Malibu to Santa Barbara.
Customer satisfaction and longevity are the company’s topmost goals. “We aim to build decks for life,” he says. “We build decks that many generations can enjoy.”
Reverend McCurtis from Face of Ventura by Johanna Spinks.
Born in Stonewall, Mississippi, in 1932, Reverend Luther McCurtis’ was fascinated to grow up as a young boy in a state where Jim Crow laws forbade blacks and whites to socialize, but each Christmas, the owners of the Stonewall Cotton Mill near his home, erected a huge Christmas tree bedecked with gifts of all kinds for all of its employees, regardless of race. This memory contributed greatly to the growth and development of Luther’s passion for equality, his humanitarian nature, and his love for all people.
At the tender age of five, Luther’s mother died. By age 15, he left Mississippi to live with his brother in Oklahoma. Shortly thereafter, in 1951, he dropped out of high school to join the United States Air Force (USAF), and earned his high school diploma during his tour of duty.
Luther’s superior officers in Guam noticed his leadership potential and appointed him to serve as a referee over racial and personal disputes. Through this experience Luther sharpened his leadership skills.
He stated “In 1953, while guarding a B-52 bomber, God called me into the ministry. After a deep internal struggle, I surrendered his will to God and accepted The Call. From the onset, I never planned to be just a “Sunday preacher” and challenged God to show him how to contribute to the spiritual, social, and economic well-being of “the least” in the community.”
He married Oracia Lane, the youngest daughter of a poor, but prominent pastor and wife in Hobbs, New Mexico in 1954. By 1959, he became an ordained minister and moved through several states with four young children in tow, finally settling in Ventura.
In faith he built a church from the ground up where they could make a difference to the community. With less than 10 members in 1962, Luther and Oracia founded the Church of God in Christ of Ventura in a small storefront. The following year, with a miniscule $100.00 down payment, the Reverend purchased the property, which stands at 660 N. Ventura Ave.
In 1982, Congressman Lagomarsino’s recommendation resulted in Reverend McCurtis receiving one of the United States of America’s highest honors— the prestigious Presidential Volunteer Action Award from President Ronal Reagan presented to him by First Lady Nancy Reagan,
Seeing so many in need in the community, he took another leap of faith to help assist the neediest members of society without using any government money. In 1968, he founded the Employment Aptitude and Placement Association (www.eapassn.org/). Over the years he has worked and sacrificed to help thousands find jobs and get out of poverty. Me & My Pillow, McCurtis’ upstart pillow company, is part of this strategy to found smaller side-businesses that will not only generate income but provide more local job opportunities. He has offered so much to so many, and never asked for any money in return.
Visit www.TotalLifeChristianCenter.com and read for yourself about the fruits of all this ministry has done over the years. Reverend McCurtis’ dream will live on for many years to come, bearing fruit that will continue lifting people out of poverty and giving them lasting hope for the future!
The family has requested in lieu of flowers, send donations to the following: Either In Memory of Luther McCurtis P.O. Box 262 Ventura, CA 93002 or to Total Life Christian Center 660 North Ventura Ave. Ventura, CA 93001.
Several local senior table tennis players recently traveled to Henderson, Nevada (Nevada Senior Games) and St. George, Utah (Huntsman World Senior Games) to compete in table tennis tournaments. The Huntsman World Senior Games is the largest multi-sport senior athletic competition in the world. Over 10,000 senior athletes compete in over 30 sports.
At the Nevada Senior Games, Alan Hammerand (Ventura) and Gary Whiddon (Thousand Oaks) won a silver medal in men’s doubles and several at the Huntsman World Senior Games.
Results from the Huntsman World Senior Games:
Men’s Age Singles: David Pessoa – Gold
Women’s Age Singles: Faye Gebert – Bronze
Men’s Doubles: Gary Gebert/David Pessoa (Agoura)- Gold
Women’s Doubles: Amy Akashi/Faye Gebert – Bronze
Men’s Random Draw Doubles: Alan Hammerand/David Pessoa – Gold
Mixed Doubles: Faye Gebert (Canoga Park) Gary Gebert – Bronze
Rated Singles (1000-1199): Faye Gebert – Silver
Super Tiered Round Robin Doubles: Amy Akashi (Camarillo)Alan Hammerand – Bronze
The Ojai Film Festival promises to draw a large crowd for eventful evenings at the Ojai Art Center Theater.
Chloe Zhao will be screening her movie The Rider and doing a Q&A at the 22nd annual Ojai Film Festival. The Rider is a 2017 American contemporary western drama film written, produced and directed by Chloé Zhao and was shot in the Badlands of South Dakota.
It won the Art Cinema Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 97% and wrote: “The Rider’s hard-hitting drama is only made more effective through writer-director Chloé Zhao’s use of untrained actors to tell the movie’s fact-based tale.
Chloe is a resident of Ojai and so is coming to support the Ojai Film Festival which is celebrating its 22nd year of honoring the best of local, environmental and spiritual themed films from around the world. This exclusive screening will take place at 7pm on Saturday, November 13th, 2021 at the Ojai Art Center Theater. Limited seating – order tickets online at https://ojaifilmfestival.com/2021-tickets/
Ivor Davis is a British transplant who has lived and worked in Southern California since the 1960s and now lives in Ventura. In addition to his journalism career, he is the author of four books, including the first book ever written on the Manson Murders, “Five to Die,” and “Manson Exposed-A Reporter’s 50 Year Journey into Madness and Murder.”
“I Was There – A Reporter’s Story” is a short, very personal, and intimate documentary about his charmed life from acclaimed Ventura County director and filmmaker John Zilles. Following the screening Sunday, November 7 at 7 pm on the Ojai Art Center patio, the audience is invited to join in for an up-close personal conversation with director Zilles and Davis.
